Jewish evangelism case dismissed

A Florida judge dismissed a lawsuit against Jews for Jesus prompted by a woman who complained she was defamed when the group called her a "Jewish believer" in its newsletter.

The newsletter's "Praise Report," written by the woman's stepson, Bruce Rapp, claimed Edith Rapp had asked Y'shua, Jesus, to be her savior.

Bruce Rapp was an employee of Jews for Jesus.

His stepmother filed suit Dec. 11, complaining the stated account was fictitious and that Jews for Jesus knew the account was false when it published the newsletter.

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The complaint said Jewish people harbor extreme animosity towards Jews for Jesus and the group seeks the "end of the Jewish religion and the Jewish faith."

Florida-based Liberty Counsel filed a motion to dismiss the case, arguing it was not defamatory to call someone a Christian. A defamatory statement, the group said, must be highly offensive to a reasonable person.

Circuit Court Judge Catherine Brunson agreed, dismissing the suit Tuesday.

Simply calling someone a Christian in America is not highly offensive to a reasonable person, nor should it be, Liberty Counsel said.

The group noted the motion argued that allowing the case to go forward would give effect to religious prejudices by recognizing and approving the prejudices that some individuals may have against Christian organizations such as Jews for Jesus.

At the hearing, Edith Rapp's attorney argued that calling Edith a member of Jews for Jesus was the same as calling a Christian a member of al-Qaida or the Nazi party.

Mathew Staver, president and general counsel for Liberty Counsel, insisted the lawsuit in essence was "an attack against Jews for Jesus as an organization because of its outreach to Jewish individuals," pointing out the suit even sought an injunction against the group's evangelism activities.

"Jews for Jesus has a right to free speech and a right to seek to evangelize Jewish individuals regardless of whether some individuals harbor animosity about those activities." Staver said.

"The law should not give a voice to prejudice, whether it be racial, or, as in this case, religious prejudice," he continued.

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The newsletter in question, published in July 2002 for supporters, was Bruce Rapp's recounting of his visit with his father and stepmother, "Edie," before his father died.

It read: "Edie began to ask me questions about Jesus … when I asked her if she would like to ask God for forgiveness for her sins and receive Y'shua she said yes! My stepmother repeated the sinner's prayer with me – praise God!"

The newsletter included a prayer request urging prayer for "grace and strength for new Jewish believer Edie and salvation for her husband, Marty."